Alondra de la Parra
Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas
2010
Danzon No.2
Arturo Márquez
Concert
9:25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daGlmea5QkI For my first observation of a conductor via YouTube I decided to look for a female conductor. I wanted to do some research and try and find a good video example. After some searching I came across Alondra de la Parra conducting a concert with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas. I had never heard her name before however it was clear from her bio that she has some incredible talent. She is the first mexican woman to conduct in New York, and was named one of the 40 under 40 New York’s Rising Stars according to her website. For someone who is only thirty years old she has accomplished a lot and has conducted for some amazing ensembles.
My first impressions of her at the concert was that she looked very confident and professional. She was dressed in a sophisticated manner while still looking feminine. She wore a black blazer with a black top underneath. She did have makeup on, however it was not too flashy or extravagant. The camera was facing towards her from backstage and slightly from the left side. The video quality as well as the sound quality was good with 240p. There was not any introductory information in the video but I do believe it was a professional recording. The quality of the video also leads me to a professional because of the quality of the picture as well as the music.
In terms of her conducting she really has a great deal of expression and you can see her passion of music clearly. Her upper arms were at a forty-five degree angle from her side with the elbows lifted. Alondra positioned her elbows slightly closer to the body than I have seen before however it does not look unnatural. Her upper body is firm without looking stiff. She held the baton in her right hand with her thumb and forefinger around where the bulb meets the stick. Her middle finger was slightly below the forefinger with the ring and pinky naturally curved below that. Her hand looked naturally and not forced.
Before she gave a preparatory beat she took the tip of the baton in her left hand and extended both arms straight out from her sternum and then slowly moved her arms outward to give the prep beat; It was flowing and smooth. From the video I cannot tell if she took a breath with the orchestra however, her skill level leads me to believe she did. She looked as if she closed her eyes for a moment before she looked at the orchestra before giving the prep and then the downbeat. She did not scan the entire orchestra before beginning but she demanded their attention.
The baton tip was facing slightly inward and the ictus was centered with her body. The ictus was at the baton tip. During the piece she used her left hand more than I have seen most conductors do. She used it for expressive gestures as well as to show dynamics and accelerandos. When her left arm was at rest